OpenAI Launches the Economic Research Exchange
OpenAI has launched the Economic Research Exchange, a new initiative designed to deepen our understanding of how advanced AI systems affect employment, productivity, and the broader economy. The Exchange will support selected research projects that apply rigorous empirical methods to real-world questions about AI’s socioeconomic effects.
The program opens applications to academic and policy researchers, offering selected teams resources such as access to relevant data, technical collaboration, and programmatic support. By pairing researchers with practical datasets and expertise, the Exchange aims to produce timely, actionable evidence rather than speculative forecasts.
Key focus areas include job transitions, productivity gains, labor-market dynamics, and distributional impacts. The goal is to equip policymakers, businesses, educators, and workers with clear insights that help shape training programs, regulatory approaches, and business strategies that maximize benefits and minimize disruption.
With applications now open, the Economic Research Exchange invites interdisciplinary teams to propose empirical studies that can inform public debate and decision-making. By fostering collaboration between researchers and practitioners, OpenAI’s initiative is a practical step toward evidence-based policies for an AI-powered economy.